Happy Halloween

We had our annual Halloween party at mom's house the Sunday before Halloween.  The kids love wearing their costume and walking down the hall. Aliyah was Little Bo Peep from Toy Story and Lilly was her sheep.  Hazel found a costume where she looks like she's riding a horse.  When they found this costume, Hazel fell in love with it and had to have it.  Dad dressed up in his lederhosen that he got when he was a young missionary.  Even Shantelle and Robby dressed up as cougar fans.  Tanner has been so excited to be Ironman.  He and Caleb were super heroes together.  Bridger dressed up as Messi in his "Messi" soccer uniform.  It was a fun night being together.  The kids always look forward to this party and for good reason.

When Tanner's costume came in the mail, he was so excited to try it on.  I asked him if he wanted to see how it looked in the mirror.  He was memorized when he looked in the mirror.  I happened to capture the moment.  I love the look on his face.  Pure magic!

  Our sweet neighbor, Sheri let us pick out three pumpkins from her garden.  Tanner has been so excited to carve our pumpkins.  But I told him we had to wait until it was closer to Halloween.  Sunday night we were at the R party.  Every night we had basketball with the older boys.  So my plan was to carve it right after Bridger got home from school.  When I went out to get the pumpkins, I quickly realized that they were completely frozen.  They were a pumpkin popsicle.  Tanner started to cry.  I felt so bad!  We got a cold spell last week and I didn't even think about the pumpkins freezing.  I got out the permanent markers and Tanner colored on them instead of carving them.

I was able to go the school Halloween parade.  Since Tanner goes to school in the morning, they did a little parade for just the kindergarten class.  Tanner was the cutest Ironman!!!

It was a different Halloween because it was just Tanner trick or treating.  Bridger wanted to hang out with his friends.  Tanner was a little sad that Bridger wasn't coming with him.  We went to the church and participated in the trunk or treat.  Matt wasn't home because he was stuck at work sitting on an epidural.  So I had Chase come to the trunk or treat and pass out the candy while I took Tanner around.  Tanner saw a couple of friends at the church so he was happy to have some friends to walk around with.

Tanner was very happy with all of the candy he got.

This is Tanner's cute friend T.

Matt's New Church Calling

For the last couple of months, Matt and I have been feeling a lot of anxiety about Stake Conference.  We knew that they would be replacing the stake presidency since they have been in for nine years.  As Matt and I talked about the upcoming changes, we didn't know if we were being prompted or if we were just feeling anxiety.  I felt like every time I studies my scriptures or conference talks, the prompting came to me to "trust in the Lord in all thy doings.  Lean not unto thine own understanding."  Matt felt like he was going to get a new calling but he didn't know which position it was.  We both agreed that we didn't want this new calling but that we would be willing to serve the Lord.  Saturday morning, Matt had an interview with two area seventy authorities.  I had promised to take Bridger basketball shoe shopping over in Logan that day.  I asked Matt if I should go and he said that he hadn't heard anything and to go.  So Bridger and I ran over to Logan to go shopping.  Right as we were walking into the store, Matt called me.  As soon as I saw his number show up, my heart sank.  I knew what it was about.  He said that he had been invited back to have another interview with  Elder E and Elder T.  They wanted to meet with me too.  I quickly dropped Bridger off at his practice and then drove over to the stake center.   It took me 45 minutes to get there.  I changed into a skirt in the car.  I came rushing in.  Elder T and Elder E were so kind.  I apologized for making them wait.  They quickly responded that  they should be apologizing for making me change my schedule.  Then Elder T asked me if I was able to take care of everything.  I explained how I had promised Bridger to look for shoes.  They said that keeping my promise to Bridger was more important and I was where I needed to be.  They were happy to wait.  That put me at ease and I was able to relax.  They asked me several questions.  They were so easy to talk to.  I felt no judgement, only kindness and love.  After they had visited with me for 10-15 minutes, they invited Matt in to join us.  They asked Matt several questions.  Then they extended the calling of first counselor in the stake presidency to him.  It was overwhelming but I felt such love from my Heavenly Father.  I know that it will be hard, but if we keep our trust in him, we can do this.  Matt is so excited to serve with President J and with the second counselor President R.  They are incredible men with incredible wives.  I'm excited to get to know them better.  We called our parents and invited them to come up the next day to Stake Conference.  It was nice to have our parents there when they set Matt apart.  We felt such love from our families.  

A few days later, our sweet friends Ross and Kelsey S stopped by with their two boys Mack and Brock.  They had been trick or treating in town.  They brought us a "Stake Presidency Survival Kit."  It was filled with lots of yummy treats and cute sayings.  We really appreciated their thoughtfulness.

Moab for Spring Break

 October 16-20 Fall Break - See Evernote Journal
GREAT MEMORIES!!!